1 Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy, to our dear fellow-worker Philemon,
2 and our sister Apphia, and our fellow-soldier Archippus, and the church that meets in your house;
4 I never mention you in my prayers without thanking my God
5 for what I hear of the love and faith you have in the Lord Jesus and all his people,
6 and I pray that through coming to know every good thing about us as Christians they may effectually share your faith.
7 I have been greatly pleased and encouraged over your love, for the hearts of God's people have been cheered, my brother, by you.
8 So although as a Christian I feel quite free to order you to do what ought to be done,
9 I prefer to appeal to you in the name of love, simply as what I am??aul, no less an envoy of Christ Jesus, though now a prisoner for him
10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I have become here in prison.
11 Once you found him useless, but now he has become useful to you and to me,
12 and now that I send him back to you, it is like sending my very heart.
13 I would have liked to keep him with me, to wait on me in your place while I am in prison for the good news,
14 but I do not wish to do anything without your consent, so that your kindness might be voluntary, and not have the appearance of compulsion.
15 For perhaps this is why you and he were parted for a while, that you might have him back forever,
16 not as a slave any longer but more than a slave, a dear brother??ear especially to me, but how much dearer to you, both as a man and as a Christian!
17 So if you regard me as a comrade, welcome him as you would me.
18 And if he has caused you any loss or owes you anything, charge it to my account.
19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it??ot to mention the fact that you owe me your very self besides.
20 Come, brother, let me make something out of you, in a Christian sense! Cheer my heart as a Christian.
21 I write you in full reliance upon your obedience; I know that you will do even more than I ask.
22 And get ready to entertain me too, for I hope that I shall be restored to you, in answer to your prayers.